Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

Author's Note: The idea for this story came when I saw an action figure of Harry Potter called Extreme Quidditch... Many thanks to Veer for beta-work, inspiration, help with some of the dialogue (and the fun following attempts) and down right silly conversations!

Thank you to those who reviewed: Chrisoriented, Hp-Azn and Sowen

Chapter 8

Molly and Arthur, meanwhile had had their talk with Ginny, telling her what they´d heard from Harry and informing her that they would be delighted to help her. Ginny had taken it to heart.

She and Oliver had spent a weekend together in Schotland, where they had been able to make use of his uncle´s cottage. Of course Ginny hadn´t mentioned to her brothers that she would be going there with Oliver. She just came to diner later that week still looking very happy from her ´Weekend away with a dear friend´. When her brothers had started to pressure her, Molly had stepped in and they had backed down, but under visible protest and a lot of muttering. They had asked Harry for help. When all Harry'd said was "Glad you had a nice time, Ginny", they had given him a disgusted look and hadn't talked to him the rest of the evening.

When Harry made no attempt of moving back to the flat, Ginny shyly had asked him if it would be alright if she and Oliver could have diner there. He had given her a sad smile and then handed her the key. She had had to promise to bring the key directly to him, no matter how late she got back. This, of course for the possibility of her losing it and one of her brothers finding and recognizing it. Harry wanted to make sure that they didn´t have a clue that he was on Ginny's side, for as long as he could manage it.

Oliver would come by to talk Quidditch with Harry as often as he could. Molly and Arthur had commented on this friendship when Ron or the twins were near. For some reason the Weasley brothers hadn't noticed that Ginny would more often than not, also come by for a visit when a certain Scotsman was at The Burrow........

Oliver's visits did, however, work their magic. Not only on Ginny who would be up on cloud no. 9 whenever she'd meet him at The Burrow, but also on Harry. Oliver had gotten him talking again and after a while Harry would even play some 'normal' Quidditch with him. And from playing he had gotten a little bit of his appetite back, but he was still looking very ill.

Meanwhile the Weasley brothers were getting a bit grumpy. It turned out that their wives had found out about EQ and were giving them a hard time about it. They had asked them how they'd found out, but neither of them would talk. Fred and George had, although reluctantly, complained about the malicious glint they would sometimes see in Katie's and Alicia's eyes. Especially when they were together and looking at the twins...

Ginny had told them that they should recognise the look and why were they surprised? After being together with them for so long it was only natural that some of their trades would rub off on Katie and Alicia........ The twins hadn't spoken to her all evening. The only ones unaffected by the whole Extreme Quidditch affair were Ginny and Oliver. Nobody thought something of it, since they were still single. They did have to try hard though, to keep their enthousiasm down....

One night Ginny had confessed to Oliver of her visit to Malfoy Manor. She had talked it over with Molly (Harry still didn´t know about it) and had decided to tell Oliver. She thought it only fair that he would know about her temper before the relationship would become more serious than it already was.

Oliver had listened to her story, and had noticed that she was trying very hard to feel sorry for Draco. She was failing miserably.

"You're not really sorry, are you?", he asked her out of the blue.

"No.", she answered and then slapped her hand over her mouth.

Oliver burst out laughing. "I knew you weren't sorry when you started with the story, Gin. I know you too well not to have seen that."

Ginny threw him a look from under her eyelashes. "And you're not mad?"

Oliver shook his head. "I know you. Seeing Harry this miserable and lonely had to make you do something. And I've been friends with too many Weasleys for too many years to underestimate that temper you have. It's one of the things I like about you. When you're angry, you're angry and you let everyone know. And, a big bonus, you look cute when you're angry."

Ginny gave a sigh of relief. Everything had been going so well and she still couldn't believe her luck. There he was, sitting across from her. Oliver Wood. Tall, gorgeous brown eyes, soft voice with that sexy Scottish accent, well muscled, very good Quidditch player, down-to-earth and then so tender when he held her........ Oliver Wood who was now scraping his throat to get her attention.

"Sorry, I was just thinking.", Ginny said. And cursed under her breath as she felt a blush spreading on her cheeks.

Oliver chuckled. "That must've been an interesting thought there, Gin."

Ginny felt her cheeks reddening even more. "Shut it Ollie!", she said, knowing full well how he hated being called Ollie.

"Hey!", he said, trying to sound angry.

Ginny giggled. "By the way, there is something I need to talk to you about. Do you remember that I told you that I got the job of doing the report on the England vs. Ireland game?"

Oliver nodded.

"I need to leave in a couple of days. But I wanted to talk to you about the way I thought we could have a little fun with that." Ginny now had a twinkle in her eyes that Oliver recognized as the look the twins always had when they were about to pull a prank. He made himself comfortable in his chair and let Ginny explain what exactly she had in mind........

Two days later Ginny arrived at The Burrow for her 'going-away-diner'. As promised, Oliver was already there, and they put a lot of effort in trying to act around each other like they had done before that memorable evening at Harry's flat. Besides her parents and Harry, George, Fred, Ron and Hermione had come over to The Burrow. They went through the motions and managed to survive diner. After diner everybody moved to the living room. That's when the twins decided to see how much they could get out of Ginny.

"So, Gin, where will you be staying then?", George inquired.

"At the Glowing Worm Inn, George.", Ginny answered in a calm voice.

"And are you going to be interviewing the players?" George continued.

"Yes, of course. It's part of my job."

"And when exactly will you be interviewing, Gin?", Fred asked.

"Well, I hope that I'll be able to speak to them before the game.", Ginny answered.

Ron, Fred and George gave relieved sighs.

"And, when the game is over, I'll go over to the locker rooms and have an after-the-game interview.", Ginny added, looking as innocent as she could manage.

"Gin!", shrieked Ron.

"What's the matter Ron? I thought you of all people would want to know how the players reflect on the game, their chances, how the other team played and such." Ginny looked at Ron as if to dare him to deny it.

Hermione had been shocked out of her socks when she had taken a look at Harry. Molly had brought her quickly up to date. She could still understand why Draco had been so angry, but it was definitely harder to stay angry at Harry when she saw how hard the separation had been on him. So, she'd talked to him and had gotten a very grateful look in return.

She was now watching the interaction between Ginny and her brothers with a vivid interest. When she locked eyes with Harry, he gave her a little wink. Picking up on the clue, Hermione decided to help Ginny where she could. She would pry the details out of Harry before the evening was over.

"Yes, but, but....", Ron was positively muttering.

"What Ronniekins is trying to say,", Fred cut in, "is that both teams consist mostly of men."

"And?", Ginny asked, determined to have either one of her brothers say the word to get themselves into trouble.

"Well...........", Fred said, momentarily lost for words.

"What your brothers are trying to say Ginny, is that they are afraid that all those trained Quidditch players might get the wrong idea.", Oliver decided to play his part. This received him a glare from Ginny.

"What do you mean?", Ginny put in a lot of effort to manage to sound irritated by Oliver.

"They are worried that all those men in all sorts of stages of undress might be a bit............ overwhelming to your innocent eyes." Oliver had to try really hard to keep himself from bursting out in laughter when he saw their faces.

Ginny too had trouble keeping her voice steady. "Are you trying to tell me that they think I might not be able to handle myself or that I can't keep my hands to myself?"

All of her brothers received an angry glare and for good measure she gave one to Oliver too. He merely tilted his head to one side as if to indicate that he understood. Harry meanwhile saw Ginny in action and was painfully reminded of Draco. With a shrug he put it aside.

"But that's ridiculous!", Hermione said, sounding surprised. "She grew up in a household of mostly men! She's survived 6 brothers! 7 if you include Harry. I'd say she knows exactly what to do for herself!"

Ginny gave her a grateful smile.

"Maybe we should come over too, Gin, you know, just to keep an eye on things.", George suggested and shared a look with Fred. At that moment Molly decided to enter the room. All the while she'd been listening to the conversation from the kitchen while preparing diner and now was the time for her part.

"You certainly will not, George Weasley! And before you two even think that that doesn't concern you, I will say it to you too, Frederick and Ronald Weasley! If I even hear about someone describing a person who resembles you even in a little detail, I will have your heads over this! And let me remind you that I am your mother and know every mole or freckle on your body so don't even think you can fool me!". Harry enjoyed the show immensely. This was Molly Weasley in all her glory.........

"But Mum! She'll be staying in a hotel with at least 12 male Quidditch players!", Ron cried out. He was immediately poked in his ribbs by Hermione. When he shot her a glance, she gave him a look that made him calm down considerably. Harry had a sneaking suspicion what she'd threatened him with.

At that moment Arthur came home.

"What's this all about?", he asked as he saw the heated faces of his children.

"Ginny will be leaving for the Quidditch game she is reporting on for the paper. Fred, George and Ron think it is a bad idea because she'll be staying in the same hotel as the players. They just suggested going with her so that they could keep an eye on her.", Molly summarised that evenings events.

"Nonsense!", Arthur said while giving his only daughter a wink. "Ginny is old and wise enough to take care of herself. She has managed to do just that for a number of years now, even though her brothers seem to think otherwise."

Ron, Fred and George now shared looks of disbelief. They couldn't understand that their parents couldn't see all the possible situations Ginny could get herself into. Meanwhile Ginny and Harry had shared a look that said that all had gone as planned.

Ginny couldn't help but smile to herself. In the scenario that she'd dubbed 'Confuse & Irritate Weasley brothers', she'd managed the first part. She was already looking forward to the rest. With interest she saw Hermione scoot over so she sat next to Harry, wave her wand and then start to talk to Harry with curiosity on her face. When Ginny saw Harry smile for the first time in two weeks, she was happy. When she came closer, she couldn't hear anything. Ah, silencing charm, she thought. Harry must be filling Hermione in on the big plan. That's when Hermione saw her and gave her a big wink and an even bigger smile. Ginny was now even more relieved than before. With Hermione on her side, revenge would be sweeter than a sugar quill.................

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